Bob French was one of the legends of New Orleans' jazz. French was a drummer and singer, and bandleader of the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band. He died Monday of complications from diabetes. He was 74.

]]>101noStolthaven Chemical Plant May Have Leaked 191,000 Gallons During Hurricane IsaacThe state Department of Environmental Quality is checking a report that as much as 191,000 gallons of toxic material may have been released during Hurricane Isaac from the Stolthaven chemical facility in Braithwaite. The company made the estimate to the Coast Guard’s National Response Center.

The chemical and storage facility next to the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish was hit hard by the storm. Company officials have said the transfer terminal had about seven feet of floodwater, but they now estimate it could have been twice as high.

The Louisiana Bucket Brigade says the damage shows the company is not prepared for floods — as it should be — and equipment is poorly maintained. It says the state isn’t forcing compliance.

A DEQ spokesman says the estimate reported by the company is a “worst-case scenario for potential releases,” and state is investigating exactly what leaked, and in what amounts. Federal and local agencies are also involved, and are planning to take soil samples.

]]>Fri, 14 Sep 2012 07:00:00 -0400http://www.wwno.org/post/stolthaven-chemical-plant-may-have-leaked-191000-gallons-during-hurricane-isaac
http://www.wwno.org/post/stolthaven-chemical-plant-may-have-leaked-191000-gallons-during-hurricane-isaacEileen FlemingThe state Department of Environmental Quality is checking a report that as much as 191,000 gallons of toxic material may have been released during Hurricane Isaac from the Stolthaven chemical facility in Braithwaite. The company made the estimate to the Coast Guard’s National Response Center.

The chemical and storage facility next to the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish was hit hard by the storm. Company officials have said the transfer terminal had about seven feet of floodwater, but they now estimate it could have been twice as high.

The Louisiana Bucket Brigade says the damage shows the company is not prepared for floods — as it should be — and equipment is poorly maintained. It says the state isn’t forcing compliance.

A DEQ spokesman says the estimate reported by the company is a “worst-case scenario for potential releases,” and state is investigating exactly what leaked, and in what amounts. Federal and local agencies are also involved, and are planning to take soil samples.

]]>62noBP Wants To Deep-Clean More Beaches of 2010 Oil Uncovered by Hurricane IsaacBP says Hurricane Isaac pushed sand off of patches of hidden oil from the 2010 spill. The company now wants to dig deeper to clean some beaches.

“It’s what we’ve seen post-storm that actually gives us really great confidence in the methods that we’ve been using to locate and to help remove this material over these 29 months," Utsler said. "It’s helped to demonstrate the differences between deep cleaning beaches, such as amenity beaches, and the impacts of only being able to clean shallow depths in other areas.”

Utsler says crews are still checking wetlands areas where oil could now possibly be accessible for cleanup. The wetlands are harder to clean, because the delicate plant life and bird nesting areas can’t withstand the washing that sandy beaches can. He says the company has submitted cleaning plans to the Coast Guard and local agencies. Inspection teams are still looking for new traces of oil from the Macondo spill.

“Not only in the barrier islands, from what we’ve been able to examine, but across the entire operations area, we have seen no examples of new oil.”

]]>Wed, 12 Sep 2012 07:00:00 -0400http://www.wwno.org/post/bp-wants-deep-clean-more-beaches-2010-oil-uncovered-hurricane-isaac
http://www.wwno.org/post/bp-wants-deep-clean-more-beaches-2010-oil-uncovered-hurricane-isaacEileen FlemingBP says Hurricane Isaac pushed sand off of patches of hidden oil from the 2010 spill. The company now wants to dig deeper to clean some beaches.

“It’s what we’ve seen post-storm that actually gives us really great confidence in the methods that we’ve been using to locate and to help remove this material over these 29 months," Utsler said. "It’s helped to demonstrate the differences between deep cleaning beaches, such as amenity beaches, and the impacts of only being able to clean shallow depths in other areas.”

Utsler says crews are still checking wetlands areas where oil could now possibly be accessible for cleanup. The wetlands are harder to clean, because the delicate plant life and bird nesting areas can’t withstand the washing that sandy beaches can. He says the company has submitted cleaning plans to the Coast Guard and local agencies. Inspection teams are still looking for new traces of oil from the Macondo spill.

“Not only in the barrier islands, from what we’ve been able to examine, but across the entire operations area, we have seen no examples of new oil.”

]]>88noTesting Under Way To Determine If Oil Surfacing After Isaac Stems From BP SpillThe state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is closing off 13 miles of waters off Port Fouchon after a tar mat and tar balls surfaced. The Coast Guard is not yet ready to say it’s oil from the BP spill two years ago.

Coast Guard Captain Peter Gaultier says reports of oil and tar balls are not unusual after a big storm.

“You can absolutely expect that there’s going to be oil spills after a hurricane rolls over. What we’ve seen is everything; from drums that lifted out of locations and that stranded. We have three grounded deep-draft vessels, big cargo ships, that aren’t leaking oil and really aren’t in danger but that we need to salvage.”

State coastal adviser Garret Graves says the state waters just closed are near an area heavily oiled by BP’s blown-out well. He says tests are being done to determine where the oil came from. The Coast Guard is also testing samples taken from oiled birds, some of which died. They were found at Myrtle Grove — another area doused by the BP spill, but the Coast Guard says it was likely from storage tanks.

Coast Guard Admiral Robert Papp says securing pollution leaks is only one part of the clean-up from Hurricane Isaac.

“Our duties really go the full range. Not only do we go out there and rescue people in the aftermath of the storm, but it’s also our job to get commerce going again. To make sure the area is resilient, that ships can get back in here and discharge their cargo and their passengers.”

The Coast Guard lab that is testing oil found on the dead birds is expected to have results of its origin next week.

]]>Wed, 05 Sep 2012 07:00:00 -0400http://www.wwno.org/post/testing-under-way-determine-if-oil-surfacing-after-isaac-stems-bp-spill
http://www.wwno.org/post/testing-under-way-determine-if-oil-surfacing-after-isaac-stems-bp-spillEileen FlemingThe state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is closing off 13 miles of waters off Port Fouchon after a tar mat and tar balls surfaced. The Coast Guard is not yet ready to say it’s oil from the BP spill two years ago.

Coast Guard Captain Peter Gaultier says reports of oil and tar balls are not unusual after a big storm.

“You can absolutely expect that there’s going to be oil spills after a hurricane rolls over. What we’ve seen is everything; from drums that lifted out of locations and that stranded. We have three grounded deep-draft vessels, big cargo ships, that aren’t leaking oil and really aren’t in danger but that we need to salvage.”

State coastal adviser Garret Graves says the state waters just closed are near an area heavily oiled by BP’s blown-out well. He says tests are being done to determine where the oil came from. The Coast Guard is also testing samples taken from oiled birds, some of which died. They were found at Myrtle Grove — another area doused by the BP spill, but the Coast Guard says it was likely from storage tanks.

Coast Guard Admiral Robert Papp says securing pollution leaks is only one part of the clean-up from Hurricane Isaac.

“Our duties really go the full range. Not only do we go out there and rescue people in the aftermath of the storm, but it’s also our job to get commerce going again. To make sure the area is resilient, that ships can get back in here and discharge their cargo and their passengers.”

The Coast Guard lab that is testing oil found on the dead birds is expected to have results of its origin next week.

]]>99noPresident Obama Coming to New Orleans for Issac Recovery UpdateLouisiana Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu will be joining President Obama when he arrives in New Orleans on Labor Day to review the region's recovery from Hurricane Isaac. Landrieu says she’ll be pressing him for more support of offshore revenue sharing.

Landrieu says she’s planning to keep pushing for giving Louisiana a bigger slice of money made from its natural resources.

“His position, I think, has been a little soft," Landrieu said. "We want him to be a robust supporter of revenue sharing when we expand drilling, or just with the drilling that we have going on.”

Landrieu also says more money needs to be allocated for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She says Louisiana alone could use half of the Corps’ entire $2 billion budget. She says more work is needed to protect residents outside the new $14 billion-dollar system protecting New Orleans.

“We need to get that share to have a reliable source of revenue coming in to us, to use it to do what we need to do to protect ourselves and our people — people who didn’t move here in the 1980s to buy a condo to sunbathe on the beautiful coast, but people who were here in the 1780s building a community that was here before the federal government raised the Stars and Stripes.”

Landrieu says more flood protection is also needed on the north shore, as well as in the River Parishes.

]]>Mon, 03 Sep 2012 07:00:00 -0400http://www.wwno.org/post/president-obama-coming-new-orleans-issac-recovery-update
http://www.wwno.org/post/president-obama-coming-new-orleans-issac-recovery-updateEileen FlemingLouisiana Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu will be joining President Obama when he arrives in New Orleans on Labor Day to review the region's recovery from Hurricane Isaac. Landrieu says she’ll be pressing him for more support of offshore revenue sharing.

Landrieu says she’s planning to keep pushing for giving Louisiana a bigger slice of money made from its natural resources.

“His position, I think, has been a little soft," Landrieu said. "We want him to be a robust supporter of revenue sharing when we expand drilling, or just with the drilling that we have going on.”

Landrieu also says more money needs to be allocated for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She says Louisiana alone could use half of the Corps’ entire $2 billion budget. She says more work is needed to protect residents outside the new $14 billion-dollar system protecting New Orleans.

“We need to get that share to have a reliable source of revenue coming in to us, to use it to do what we need to do to protect ourselves and our people — people who didn’t move here in the 1980s to buy a condo to sunbathe on the beautiful coast, but people who were here in the 1780s building a community that was here before the federal government raised the Stars and Stripes.”

Landrieu says more flood protection is also needed on the north shore, as well as in the River Parishes.

]]>86noMayor Landrieu Says City Ready To Handle IsaacEvents marking the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina are canceled in New Orleans. The city is bracing for another storm.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the city is ready for the wind and rain that the system called Isaac is predicted to bring.

“The people of the metropolitan area, the people of Louisiana have been through many, many storms. We are very well prepared. And we feel very good about our ability — if we do the things that we know that we can do — to weather this storm.”

Residents have been boarding up windows. Some are leaving ahead of the storm that’s expected to reach its height late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

]]>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 07:00:00 -0400http://www.wwno.org/post/mayor-landrieu-says-city-ready-handle-isaac
http://www.wwno.org/post/mayor-landrieu-says-city-ready-handle-isaacEileen FlemingEvents marking the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina are canceled in New Orleans. The city is bracing for another storm.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the city is ready for the wind and rain that the system called Isaac is predicted to bring.

“The people of the metropolitan area, the people of Louisiana have been through many, many storms. We are very well prepared. And we feel very good about our ability — if we do the things that we know that we can do — to weather this storm.”

Residents have been boarding up windows. Some are leaving ahead of the storm that’s expected to reach its height late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

]]>40noNew Orleans Set For Isaac's ArrivalNew Orleans is closing itself off as it awaits the arrival of a storm churning its way over the Gulf of Mexico. Officials are confident that they’re well prepared for what’s coming.

No flights will be arriving or leaving New Orleans airport Tuesday. Officials expect strong wind and rain to slam the region before the storm peaks around midnight. Hardware store shelves have been stripped of flashlights and batteries. Streetcars are no longer running along St. Charles Avenue. Many gas stations have run dry. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu is advising people sheltering at home to secure their property and help their neighbors.

]]>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 06:00:00 -0400http://www.wwno.org/post/new-orleans-set-isaacs-arrival
http://www.wwno.org/post/new-orleans-set-isaacs-arrivalEileen FlemingNew Orleans is closing itself off as it awaits the arrival of a storm churning its way over the Gulf of Mexico. Officials are confident that they’re well prepared for what’s coming.

No flights will be arriving or leaving New Orleans airport Tuesday. Officials expect strong wind and rain to slam the region before the storm peaks around midnight. Hardware store shelves have been stripped of flashlights and batteries. Streetcars are no longer running along St. Charles Avenue. Many gas stations have run dry. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu is advising people sheltering at home to secure their property and help their neighbors.

]]>39noStudy Shows New Orleans in Poverty CrisisA new study says New Orleans is in a poverty crisis. The review, commissioned by the Greater New Orleans Foundation and conducted by the Greater New Orleans Comunity Data Center, finds financial trouble extending to the middle class.

The report, entitled “Assets and Opportunities,” shows 37 percent of all New Orleans residents don’t have enough assets to support a household for three months at the federal poverty level if the main source of income is lost. That’s 10 percent higher than the national average.

“It went down shortly after Katrina because there were so many low-income people who left the region. But really, we’re at the same place we were before the storms, and I think that’s just a great shame.”

Measuring poverty by assets is a new method. Those assets include home ownership, savings accounts, insurance and credit. The study found 71 percent of New Orleans consumers have subprime credit scores. Using Census information, the GNOCDC found 22 percent of the white population faces asset poverty. That number is about double for African Americans and Hispanics in New Orleans.

GNOCDC demographer Allison Plyer says New Orleans’ poverty rate has dropped in national rankings, but only because the recession has slammed other cities.

“We are still 27 percent. Our poverty rate has not changed. But because Detroit, Cleveland and so many other cities' poverty rate has gotten worse, our ranking has fallen to about 18.”

Leaders in non-profits, business, banking and government are now working on a strategy to fight poverty on several fronts, starting with helping people build good credit ratings and helping them take advantage of government and private funding now available to help build assets.

]]>Wed, 15 Aug 2012 07:00:00 -0400http://www.wwno.org/post/study-shows-new-orleans-poverty-crisis
http://www.wwno.org/post/study-shows-new-orleans-poverty-crisisEileen FlemingA new study says New Orleans is in a poverty crisis. The review, commissioned by the Greater New Orleans Foundation and conducted by the Greater New Orleans Comunity Data Center, finds financial trouble extending to the middle class.

The report, entitled “Assets and Opportunities,” shows 37 percent of all New Orleans residents don’t have enough assets to support a household for three months at the federal poverty level if the main source of income is lost. That’s 10 percent higher than the national average.

“It went down shortly after Katrina because there were so many low-income people who left the region. But really, we’re at the same place we were before the storms, and I think that’s just a great shame.”

Measuring poverty by assets is a new method. Those assets include home ownership, savings accounts, insurance and credit. The study found 71 percent of New Orleans consumers have subprime credit scores. Using Census information, the GNOCDC found 22 percent of the white population faces asset poverty. That number is about double for African Americans and Hispanics in New Orleans.

GNOCDC demographer Allison Plyer says New Orleans’ poverty rate has dropped in national rankings, but only because the recession has slammed other cities.

“We are still 27 percent. Our poverty rate has not changed. But because Detroit, Cleveland and so many other cities' poverty rate has gotten worse, our ranking has fallen to about 18.”

Leaders in non-profits, business, banking and government are now working on a strategy to fight poverty on several fronts, starting with helping people build good credit ratings and helping them take advantage of government and private funding now available to help build assets.

]]>112noMayor Landrieu Hears Budget Ideas at Community MeetingsNew Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has begun his annual round of community meetings to set budget priorities for the coming year. Some suggestions range from fixing streets to using the shuttered Charity Hospital as a new City Hall.

Mayor Landrieu has held these community meetings throughout the city as his administration figures out what to fund — and by how much. He calls it "budgeting for outcomes." And, as University of New Orleans political science professor Ed Chervenak explains, it’s what more and more cities are doing.

“It’s basically a way to reinvent government, to think more about getting more for your dollar, getting bureaucrats to respond to people not as clients but as customers," says Chervenak. "Budgeting for outcomes means, ‘Okay. Set your priorities and then devote the resources to those priorities that people want.'”

Chervenak says Landrieu was told in recent years that the recreation department needed improvement, and it was made a priority. At the start of this year’s round, he was told to set aside more money for the fire department and mental health services. One woman suggested the present City Hall is falling apart, and relocating to a refurbished Charity Hospital may be a solution. Landrieu said it was a good idea. He took notes on the reports of rough roads and lots covered in high grass.

“That’s what mayors do. Once they’re mayor they own all the problems and the infrastructure,” Chervenak said.

Four more meetings are scheduled in each district this month. The City Council will receive his budget proposal in October.

]]>Tue, 14 Aug 2012 07:00:00 -0400http://www.wwno.org/post/mayor-landrieu-hears-budget-ideas-community-meetings
http://www.wwno.org/post/mayor-landrieu-hears-budget-ideas-community-meetingsEileen FlemingNew Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has begun his annual round of community meetings to set budget priorities for the coming year. Some suggestions range from fixing streets to using the shuttered Charity Hospital as a new City Hall.

Mayor Landrieu has held these community meetings throughout the city as his administration figures out what to fund — and by how much. He calls it "budgeting for outcomes." And, as University of New Orleans political science professor Ed Chervenak explains, it’s what more and more cities are doing.

“It’s basically a way to reinvent government, to think more about getting more for your dollar, getting bureaucrats to respond to people not as clients but as customers," says Chervenak. "Budgeting for outcomes means, ‘Okay. Set your priorities and then devote the resources to those priorities that people want.'”

Chervenak says Landrieu was told in recent years that the recreation department needed improvement, and it was made a priority. At the start of this year’s round, he was told to set aside more money for the fire department and mental health services. One woman suggested the present City Hall is falling apart, and relocating to a refurbished Charity Hospital may be a solution. Landrieu said it was a good idea. He took notes on the reports of rough roads and lots covered in high grass.

“That’s what mayors do. Once they’re mayor they own all the problems and the infrastructure,” Chervenak said.

Four more meetings are scheduled in each district this month. The City Council will receive his budget proposal in October.

]]>95noNew Orleans Examining News Outlets as Times-Picayune Cutbacks ApproachAs the Times-Picayune cutbacks are looming, other media organizations are examining what comes next for news in New Orleans. Several ideas are in play.

The New Orleans Coalition on Open Governance is asking the community this question: What happens to local news coverage when the Times-Picayune cuts back next month to three print editions a week? Steve Beatty is managing editor of the non-profit public interest newsroom The Lens. Before moderating at a Loyola University media forum, he outlined what some groups are planning to help fill the Times-Picayune void.

“There’s a new effort at the University of New Orleans to start a non-profit organization. The Baton Rouge Advocate has announced changes to get involved in the New Orleans market. And my outfit, The Lens, has teamed up with some other publishers," said Beatty. "All that happened kind of in a flurry in the past two weeks. We looked brilliant for having scheduled this when we did. It was completely by accident.”

Panelists were asked how a culture as diverse as New Orleans can be covered by small groups instead of media aiming at a general audience. Keith Woods of NPR says a broad community view should continue.

“There are still news organizations doing exactly what you’ve described, including the Times-Picayune. You have public radio in town. You have the commercial television stations in town, commercial radio in town. And so, to a certain extent, we can’t continue on imaging that that’s gone.”

]]>Fri, 10 Aug 2012 07:00:00 -0400http://www.wwno.org/post/new-orleans-examining-news-outlets-times-picayune-cutbacks-approach
http://www.wwno.org/post/new-orleans-examining-news-outlets-times-picayune-cutbacks-approachEileen FlemingAs the Times-Picayune cutbacks are looming, other media organizations are examining what comes next for news in New Orleans. Several ideas are in play.

The New Orleans Coalition on Open Governance is asking the community this question: What happens to local news coverage when the Times-Picayune cuts back next month to three print editions a week? Steve Beatty is managing editor of the non-profit public interest newsroom The Lens. Before moderating at a Loyola University media forum, he outlined what some groups are planning to help fill the Times-Picayune void.

“There’s a new effort at the University of New Orleans to start a non-profit organization. The Baton Rouge Advocate has announced changes to get involved in the New Orleans market. And my outfit, The Lens, has teamed up with some other publishers," said Beatty. "All that happened kind of in a flurry in the past two weeks. We looked brilliant for having scheduled this when we did. It was completely by accident.”

Panelists were asked how a culture as diverse as New Orleans can be covered by small groups instead of media aiming at a general audience. Keith Woods of NPR says a broad community view should continue.

“There are still news organizations doing exactly what you’ve described, including the Times-Picayune. You have public radio in town. You have the commercial television stations in town, commercial radio in town. And so, to a certain extent, we can’t continue on imaging that that’s gone.”